Hamilton on lists of America’s best, most challenging high schools

Hamilton High School made the lists of America’s top high schools as determined by two national news media outlets – Newsweek Magazine and The Washington Post.

For the second consecutive year, Hamilton High School was named to Newsweek Magazine’s “America’s Best High Schools” list. The ranking highlights the best 1,000 public high schools in the nation – ones that have proven to be the most effective in turning out college-ready graduates. Hamilton’s rank in 2013 went up 10 spots from 2012.

For the first time in the school’s history, it made The Washington Post’s “America’s Most Challenging High Schools” list. The list is generated based on an index score which takes the number of college-level tests given at a school in 2012 divided by the number of graduates that year. Also noted are the percentage of students who come from families that qualify for lunch subsidies and the number of graduates who passed at least one college-level test during their high school career.

Among Wisconsin’s 542 public and private high schools, only 30 were on The Washington Post list. The Newsweek list ranks only public high schools, which puts Hamilton among 29 of Wisconsin’s approximately 450 public high schools.

Hamilton Principal Candis Mongan said being named to the lists reflects staff members’ commitment to work diligently to meet the needs of students.

“Last year Hamilton was named to the Newsweek list for the first time in the school’s history, and it was a significant milestone for all staff members who have worked to increase rigor and meet the individual needs of our students,” Mongan said. “Being named to both lists this year shows that we are sustaining our efforts to challenge students.”